Last week, the business organization BNI Maine named Carey Zembas of Lewiston as its member of the week.

You can hardly blame the group. Since she launched Lewiston-based MZ Cleaning at the start of 2022, Zembas has continually grown the business to the point where it currently employs 26 workers. The company is known for cleaning whatever comes its way and in fact Zembas has a side job scooping poo wherever poo needs scooping.

Committed enough for you?

Zembas runs the company along with partners with Tom and Debbi Murphy. We caught up with her between cleaning gigs to find out how her business came to be and whether there are any secret cleaning tricks she’s willing to share.

How did MZ Cleaning come to be? I was the (chief operating officer) of a large cleaning company prior, and the company was getting ready to sell.

I decided that I wanted to continue what I was doing but more of the way I really wanted to do things. I found a partner that wanted the same things and we decided to open our own business in January 2022. My partner, Thomas Murphy, and his wife, Debbi, who also own the Clean Estate, an estate sale business, joined me in this endeavor and in just six months we have built a huge company.

I have been an active part of the community being a Chamber (of Commerce) member, working with the Exchange Club, joining our local BNI, and being a volunteer and committee member for a nonprofit, House in the Woods. (House in the Woods is an all-expenses-paid retreat house for veterans and families.) I feel that these connections and our work ethic is what has truly helped our business grow so rapidly.

What are the toughest cleaning jobs? We clean for several property management companies in the L-A area. We clean units when people move out and some of the units are really dirty! When the cleaners go, there is no AC, so it’s hot, can smell and can be a lot of hard work. I must give these workers many props. To do this type of work its not easy.

What are the funnest? The best cleanings are Airbnb’s and medical offices. They are both kept clean, so you are just maintaining instead of deep cleaning, and they offer air conditioning!

Did you like to clean when you were a kid? I have always liked cleaning other people’s houses; I can remember babysitting and cleaning the house for the parents while I was there. They were always so excited.

Do you have a specific product or tool that you consider your go-to cleaning weapon? I would say the two things I have to have is a Magic Eraser and my favorite cleaner that isn’t part of my commercial line of cleaners is OxiClean 3 in 1 (Deep Clean). This stuff is like magic. It’s low odor, has no abrasives or bleach, deodorizes, and disinfects. For around $4 a bottle it’s worth it.

What do you do with yourself when you’re not on the job? I also run a pooper scooping business where we go to people’s houses and pick up the dog poop for them. And if I am not doing that, I am with my family or Jeeping.

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